FYE SUMMER NEWSLETTER EDITION 3!
It’s June, and that means campus is buzzing as we prepare to celebrate the Union College Class of 2025 at Commencement this weekend! At the same time, we’re continuing to cheer you on as many of you celebrate your own high school graduations! Congratulations again on all you’ve accomplished.
We’re so excited to welcome you to Union, and we’re here to support you every step of the way as you prepare for your transition. Keep reading for important updates, reminders, and a few ways to stay connected this month!
As always, if you have any questions, reach out to me at firstyearexperience@union.edu. I’m here to help!
AILEEN SCHATZ
Director of the First-Year Experience
403E Reamer Campus Center
firstyearexperience@union.edu | schatza@union.edu | 518.388.6061
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If you missed our first few newsletters, no worries! You can find them on the First-Year Experience website, toward the bottom of the page, under Class of 2029 Summer Communications. All newsletters will be posted there as they go out. |
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SAVE THE DATE: FIRST-YEAR SPARK!
A special summer preview event for the Class of 2029 and incoming transfer students!
We’re excited to invite you to First-Year Spark on Saturday, July 26th from 2:00–7:00 PM, a fun and casual way to meet some of your future classmates, explore campus, and see what Schenectady has to offer even before move-in day! All incoming students are welcome to join us for the day and spend some relaxed, low-pressure time getting to know Union.
From 2:00–5:30 PM, it’s all about U (our new students), meeting new friends, getting to know campus, and easing those pre-college jitters. Then, at 5:30 PM, we’ll welcome back parents and families for a BBQ dinner celebration!
Can’t make it in person? Don't worry, we will also host a virtual meet and greet later that week so you can still connect with us and some of your classmates.
More details and a registration links will be shared in your June 24th newsletter, we hope to see you there!
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HEALTH FORMS
Angela Stefanatos, Director of the Health Center
As a reminder, Health portal forms, physicals and immunization forms from physicians should be uploaded to the health portal by this Friday, June 13. See the health requirement checklist for details and form links. Please note, Health center staff will review each document for completeness before it shows as complete with a Green Check Mark in your applicant portal.
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-6120.
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ACADEMICS
Michelle Osborn, Dean of Studies
By now, all students should have completed the Advising and Course Registration form on the applicant portal. The information you provided will help create your fall term schedule, which you will receive in August. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Tom Jordan, Director of Academic Advising and Enrichment, at academicadvising@union.edu or call (518) 388-7116.
In addition, all students must take the Mathematics Placement Exam.
Students interested in taking chemistry courses must take the Chemistry Placement Exam.
Students interested in taking physics courses must the Physics Placement Exam. The deadline for all placement exams are July 15.
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RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION AND HOUSING
Catie Straube, Director of Residential Education and Housing
Don’t forget to complete your Housing Registration and Commuter Exemption Requests in your Union College student housing portal. The form is available through July 6th at 11:59 pm. Students who plan to commute can request the commuter exemption form by emailing us at housing@union.edu.
After completing your housing registration form, you can then begin to search and match with roommates in the roommate matching portion of your student housing portal. For a how-to video on matching with roommates, visit our Admitted and Prospective Students website page and scroll to the bottom of the page. The roommate matching portal will stay open through July 15th at 11:59 PM. To be placed with your preferred roommate, you must match with them fully in your student housing portal.
Don't want to match with a roommate ahead of time and want our team to match you with someone? No problem! Our team will match students based on lifestyle preferences and assign them together if they have not matched with a preferred roommate.
If you wish to apply for special housing accommodations, please see the separate forms and guidance on the Accommodative Services webpage: Special Housing Accommodations Request. Note that the deadline for housing accommodation requests is June 16.
Questions? Email or call (518) 388-6117.
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ACCOMMODATIVE SERVICES
As we mentioned in our first newsletter, if you are a student with a documented disability who will need accommodations for the upcoming school year, you will need to register with the Accommodative Services Office and upload your supporting documentation for our review. Details on this process and timeline can be found on our Accommodative Services Website. Students are encouraged to begin the application process as early as possible so that accommodations can be in place when classes begin in September.
If you wish to apply for special housing accommodations, the deadline for the housing accommodation request is June 16.
For a more detailed overview of the Accommodative Services Office, including important information about your application and the services we provide, please view our Accommodative Services Overview for New Students video
Questions? Email accommodations@union.edu or call 518-388-8785.
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MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE ORIENTATION COMMITTEE!
Each edition of our summer newsletter will introduce you to one of the six student leaders on our Orientation Committee (OC). These dedicated upper-class students work closely with the Office of First-Year Experience to help plan Orientation and support your transition to Union. They’ve been in your shoes and are here to make sure you feel welcomed, supported, and excited for what’s ahead!
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My name is Marissa Gnitzcavich! I am finishing up my junior year at Union College!
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry and Psychology
Most Memorable Class at Union: Global Biogeochemical Cycles! I traveled to Panama for the lab component of the course. The bonds made with my classmates and professor, as well as the cultural immersion and scientific research experience is unmatched!
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What I’m Involved In: In addition to helping plan orientation on the Orientation Committee, I am the president of the Biology Club, help lead volunteering initiatives with the Kenney Center for
Community Engagement, and tutor the Chemistry Help Center. I am also a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Order of Omega, and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.
Looking Forward to in 2025-26 School Year: I am looking forward to continuing my fun family rivalry with my brother, who attended RPI, when we watch the Dutchman's Shoes Game at Frank Bailey Field this fall! I also can’t wait to see games at the new hockey rink with my friends!
Best Piece of Advice for New Students: Try everything Union has to offer! From dining events, off campus excursions, regular club activities, weekend programming, and volunteering, there’s no excuse to be bored. Say yes to the classes that pique your interests! Make sure to balance your academics with all the fun that Union has to offer! Stay in the loop with what is happening.
Fun Fact About Me: I am the youngest of four children (opposite of OC Ben from the last newsletter)
Favorite Union Tradition: Springfest (Flo Rida, Daya, and We The Kings was my favorite lineup so far!)
I had a blast talking to my peers about their favorite Union traditions during a fun day on campus, Lobster Fest. Make sure to check out the Charging Up Your First Year podcast to see what everyone said!
Do you have any questions about classes, orientation, or campus life in general that you want answered from a student perspective? If so, you can email me at gnitzcam@union.edu. If not, I can’t wait to meet each of you this fall to start your four amazing years at Union! See you all soon! ☺
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Robin Olinsky, Class Dean and International Student Advising
International Advising will be holding a drop-in Zoom advising sessions June 12 from 8:30am-9am Eastern Time. No pre-registration is required, join here.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Union College uses Google Workspace for Education, a cloud-based suite of tools designed for educational use. As a member of the Union community, you’ll have access to applications like Google Mail, Google Docs, and Google Drive—enabling easy communication, collaboration, and file storage. You can learn more in this article about Google Workspace for Education.
Using Okta Verify for Multi-Factor Security Authentication at Union College
At Union College, students use Okta Verify as the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) tool. MFA adds an extra layer of security when logging in to your Union College account by requiring a second form of verification—such as a push notification or code from the Okta Verify app—in addition to your password. The Okta Verify app offers the highest level of security, takes up very little space on your device, and is the most convenient option for MFA. This added protection helps ensure that only you can access your account, even if your password is compromised.
To learn how to download and set up Okta Verify, visit the following link: Enable Multi-Factor Authorization Using Okta
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We encourage you to check out our Charging Up Your First Year podcast series throughout the summer. New episodes will be released bi-weekly on Wednesdays. Our first episode released on May 21st. Throughout each episode, you will have the opportunity to learn about different topics and offices on campus and hear about what to expect when you arrive on campus. Our current students will even share some of their favorite things about Union and tips and tricks to help you with your transition to the College. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.
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